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Industry writes off the Burns Inquiry
Page 22
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Low confidence in the Burns report and ignorance over digital tachographs are two key issues highlighted by the latest CM/Michelin survey.
/ESPITE THE Burns Inquiry's laim to be a comprehensive study truck operators, less than 20% firms in our survey admit to Acing part.
Our survey also indicates that le industry isn't holding out a real deal of hope for the report: nly 39% of respondents thought le project was worthwhile and. amningly, a tiny 9% thought it ould have any effect on the overnment's Frank Stears, proprietor of raversham-based Stears Haulage nd a leading light in the currently orm ant protest group Transacon. attended the Paddock Wood eeting and said he was left ismayed by the tiny turnout and hambolic organisation.
"Kent hauliers ought to he shamed of themselves for the imout." he says. "I didn't receive fly information in advance about — the only warning I had was -om reading Conlinercial Motor.
lp in arms Out ot the 10 or so who went, five ereTransaction members Everyne's up in arms hut none of them re prepared to do anything." Stears is also dismissive about le report's chances of success. He dds: "I can't see any government stcning to something that doesn't ave proper support."
He points out that during the past three years he has lost around 50% of his work to foreign competitors: "I saw a Polish driver doing an internal load of grain the other week, which is something I thought I'd never see."
Equally dismissive of the report is Albert Jeffrey. who runs the Pebworth, Worcs-based 11-truck general haulage firm A Jeffrey (Transport). He says: "They've got to get us on an even playing field, hut the government knows what the problems are already and I can't see this report changing its mind."
Our survey also shows that the majority of transport firms don't fully understand the rules surrounding digital smart-card tachographs. which are due to come into
use next year. However, despite this widespread ignorance, operators are gearing up for their launch. Most have started training their staff and only 20% expressed concern about this issue.
Anthony Dawes, transport manager at Folkestone-based Channel Woodcraft, expresses the frustration felt by many over the issue:
"We did get someone in to train the drivers, but then the situation ehanged.At the moment we're not sure when digital tachos will he starting, so until we are we're not going to train the drivers."
It's all change tinc N Olt 11. Western operator says: "Drivers are very good at their jobs and many have been in this business for a long time, but it has taken years to drum it into them to record and calculate the hours as it is and now it's suddenly all change.
"No disrespect to any driver as they are brilliant at what they do, but my worry is for those who came into this trade without academic skills and now have to understand the new digital system."